Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities

Frank W. Berry, Commissioner

Region 2 Field Office

3405 Mike Padgett Highway, Building 3 · Augusta, Georgia 30906-3815
(706) 792-7733 · Fax (706) 792-7740 · Toll Free (866) 380-4835

DBHDD Region 2 Field Office

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) has six regional
field offices across Georgia in an effort to be more accessible to the stakeholders involved with
the public behavioral health system.

Each field office coordinates a community-based system of care through contracted providers
for eligible individuals. The community-based system allows individuals to receive care in the
least restrictive setting possible while helping them to obtain a life of recovery and
independence.

Each field office provides leadership in building a local collaborative to help inform and
communicate about available services; offers technical assistance; and serves as the point of
contact for individuals who have difficulty accessing services.

Region 2 Field Office serves the following counties in East Georgia: Baldwin, Barrow, Bibb,
Burke, Clarke, Columbia, Elbert, Emanuel, Glascock, Greene, Hancock, Jackson, Jasper,
Jefferson, Jenkins, Jones, Lincoln, Madison, McDuffie, Monroe, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe,
Putnam, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Twiggs, Walton, Warren, Washington, Wilkes, and
Wilkinson.

The Regional Advisory Council is a volunteer board comprised of citizens from each of the 31
counties in Region 1. The Council identifies community needs and gaps in the current service
system and makes recommendations to DBHDD.

The Region 2 Field Office is located in Augusta, Georgia.

DBHDD Region 2 Field Office

3421 Mike Padgett Highway
Building 3
Augusta, Georgia 30906-3815
Phone: (706) 792-7733
Fax: (706) 792-7740
Toll Free: (866) 380-4835

Last Updated 2/22/2016 | Page 1

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities
Frank W. Berry, Commissioner

Region 2 Field Office

3405 Mike Padgett Highway, Building 3 · Augusta, Georgia 30906-3815
(706) 792-7733 · Fax (706) 792-7740 · Toll Free (866) 380-4835

DBHDD Region 2 Field Office

Contact Information

Behavioral Health Regional Services Administrator

Dawn Peel
(706) 792-7671
dawn.peel@dbhdd.ga.gov

Developmental Disabilities Regional Services Administrator

Karla Brown
(706) 792-7695
karla.brown@dbhdd.ga.gov

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 Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
State Psychiatric Hospitals, Private Hospitals (Contracted)
and Community Service Areas

State Psychiatric Hospitals (numbers in black circles)

1 - Georgia Regional Hospital - Atlanta
2 - West Central Georgia Regional Hospital - Columbus
3 - Central State Hospital (Forensics) - Milledgeville
4 - East Central Regional Hospital - Augusta
Towns
Dade Catoosa Fannin
Rabun
5 - Georgia Regional Hospital - Savannah
Union
Murray
Walker Whitfield

1 REGION 1
Gilmer
White Habersham
Private Psychiatric Hospitals (letters in white circles)
A - Floyd Medical Center - Rome
Lumpkin Stephens B - Wellstar Cobb Hospital - Austell

3
Gordon
Chattooga Pickens
Dawson
C - Laurelwood - Gainesville

Floyd
A 2Bartow Forsyth C
Hall Banks Franklin Hart
D - Peachford Hospital - Dunwoody
E - Summitridge - Lawrenceville
Cherokee
F - Anchor Hospital - Atlanta
Jackson
Elbert G - Willowbrook at Tanner - Carrollton
E
Madison

*NOTE: These hospitals have been contracted by DBHDD

4 REGION 3
Polk Cobb Gwinnett
Barrow
to receive individuals from counties in Region 1.
B
Paulding Clarke

D
9 Oconee

10
Oglethorpe

1 8
De Kalb Wilkes

11
Haralson
Walton Lincoln

5 F6
Douglas
le

Fulton
da
ck

Morgan

7
Clayton
Ro

G Carroll Newton Greene Taliaferro Columbia

McDuffie
4
15 REGION 2
Henry Warren
Fayette
Coweta Richmond
Heard Butts Jasper Putnam
Hancock

16
Spalding
Glascock

3 13
14
Meriwether
Troup Pike Lamar Jefferson Burke

REGION 6
Monroe Jones Baldwin

12
Washington

Upson

Bibb
Jenkins Screven
Harris Wilkinson

19
Talbot Crawford Johnson
Twiggs

Muscogee Taylor Peach Emanuel

2 Houston Bleckley Laurens

Treutlen Candler
Macon

23
Bulloch Effingham

18
Chattahoochee Marion
omery

Schley Pulaski

17 Dodge
24
Montg

Dooly Evans
Wheeler
Toombs Bryan
Stewart
Webster Sumter Tattnall Chatham
Wilcox
Telfair
5
Crisp
Quitman
Liberty

26
Randolph Terrell Jeff Davis
Lee Ben Hill Appling

REGION 5
Long
Turner

Clay Worth Irwin

Bacon
Calhoun Dougherty Coffee
Wayne McIntosh
Tift

Early
20 Baker
Mitchell Colquitt
22 Atkinson
Pierce

REGION 4
Berrien
Ware Glynn

25
Miller Cook Brantley

21
Lanier

Clinch
Seminole Camden
Decatur Grady Charlton
Thomas Brooks
Lowndes

Echols

Community Service Areas

1 - Lookout Mountain Community Services 10 - Advantage Behavioral Health Systems 19 - Phoenix Center Behavioral Health Services
2 - Highland Rivers Community Service Board 11 - CSB of East Central Georgia (Serenity Behavioral Health) 20 - Albany Area Community Service Board
3 - Avita Community Partners 12 - River Edge Behavioral Health Center 21 - Georgia Pines Community MHMRSA Services
4 - Cobb Community Service Board 13 - Oconee Community Service Board 22 - Behavioral Health Services of South Georgia
5 - Douglas Community Service Board 14 - Ogeechee Behavioral Health Services 23 - Community Service Board of Middle Georgia
6 - Fulton County MHDDAD 15 - Pathways Center for Behavioral & Developmental Growth 24 - Pineland Area Community Service Board
7 - Clayton Community Service Board 16 - McIntosh Trail Community Service Board 25 - Unison Behavioral Health (formerly Satilla CSB)
8 - DeKalb Community Service Board 17 - New Horizons Community Service Board 26 - Gateway Community Service Board
9 - View Point Health (formerly GRN CSB) 18 - Middle Flint Behavioral Healthcare
*NOTE: Numbered Service Areas are for identification purposes only.

DBHDD Office of Decision Support & Information Management (Updated: 06/17/2014)

 Community Service Providers
Georgia Crisis & Access Line – (800) 715-4225
Advantage Behavioral Health Systems Counties Served:
250 North Avenue Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson,
Athens, GA 30601-2244 Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe,
Phone: (706) 389-6739 Walton
Fax: (706) 542-9681
OJ Booker, CEO
obooker@advantagebhs.org

***

Serenity Behavioral Health Systems Counties Served:

3421 Mike Padgett Highway Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond,
Augusta, GA 30906-3815 Taliaferro, Warren, Wilkes
Phone: (706) 432-7800
Fax: (706) 432-3791 Charles D. Williamson, CEO
cwilliamson@serenitybhs.com

***

River Edge Behavioral Health Center Counties Served:

175 Emery Highway Baldwin, Bibb, Jones, Monroe, Putnam,
Macon, GA 31217 Twiggs, Wilkinson
Phone: (478) 751-4515
Fax: (478) 752-1040 Shannon T. Gordon, CEO
sgordon@river-edge.org

***

Oconee Community Service Board Counties Served:

P.O. Box 1827 Baldwin, Hancock, Jasper, Putnam,
Milledgeville, GA 31059-1827 Washington, Wilkinson
Phone: (478) 445-4817
Fax: (478) 445-4963 Tyrone Evans, Director
oconeeacct@windstream.net
***

Ogeechee Behavioral Health Services Counties Served:

223 N. Anderson Drive Burke, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson,
Swainsboro, GA 30401-1259 Jenkins, Screven
Phone: (478) 289-2522
Fax: (478) 289-2544 Amy Tribble, Director
atribble@obhs-ga.org

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 Community-Based Services
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Mental Health Services

Adult Core Services are basic outpatient services for people with a mental illness or an
addictive disease. Services consist of evaluations by both a psychiatrist and a nurse; the
development of a treatment plan, which may include prescription medication; outpatient
counseling; supported employment; and home visits by a community service worker. Behavioral
Health Core Services include:
• Behavioral Health Assessment and Service Plan Development
• Psychological Testing
• Diagnostic Assessment
• Crisis Intervention
• Psychiatric Treatment
• Nursing Assessment and Care
• Medication Administration
• Case Management
• Individual Outpatient Services
• Group Outpatient Services
• Family Outpatient Services

Adult Inpatient Hospitalization Services support individuals whose behaviors or

symptoms are too acute to be effectively managed in a CSU. East Central Regional Hospital
(ECRH) in Augusta, which has a mental health capacity of 90 beds, provides inpatient
psychiatric treatment services for individuals whose mental health symptoms are too severe to
be effectively treated in a CSU. Upon discharge from the hospital, patients are referred to a core
provider for outpatient care.

Adult Residential Services range from intensive treatment in a small residential setting to
providing rent supplements to help persons in recovery live as independently as possible.
Residential services may be provided in CSB-operated group homes, or by supported housing in
HUD or personal care homes. Intensive residential services are located in Macon and
Milledgeville. Semi-independent residential services are available in Athens, Augusta, Macon,
and Milledgeville.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), also known as “a hospital without walls,”

provides full service teams, with small caseloads, that offer more intense services in the
community. Region 2 has ACT teams in Augusta, Athens, Macon and Milledgeville. Each team
focuses on individuals with a serious mental illness who are most at risk for re-hospitalization,
homelessness or incarceration. This service is specified in the DOJ Settlement Agreement.

Case Management (CM) and Community Service Teams go to individuals in their

homes, or other places in the community, to support recovery efforts. Caseloads are usually
limited to 30 individuals per staff member. These services are adjunct to the Core Services
individuals receive and are designed to foster successful living in the community. CM services
are available in all of Region 2’s 33 counties.

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Community Support Teams (CSTs) consist of a nurse, a paraprofessional, a licensed team
leader and a Certified Peer Specialist. They provide intensive behavioral health services to
individuals with severe mental illness who are discharged from a hospital after multiple or
extended stays; have multiple discharges from crisis stabilization unit(s), correctional facilities
or other institutional settings; or who are leaving institutions but are difficult to engage in
treatment. Services include: symptom and medication management, illness self-management,
crisis planning, one-on-one psychosocial rehabilitation and links to community resources. This
service is provided to individuals to decrease hospitalizations, incarcerations, emergency room
visits and crisis episodes, and increase community tenure/independent functioning; time
working; and personal satisfaction and autonomy. Through active assistance and based on
individualized needs, individuals become engaged in the recovery process. CST is available in
the Athens and Augusta area.

Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) function as emergency receiving facilities and provide
crisis services in residential settings to rapidly stabilize the behaviors and symptoms of
individuals in acute phases of mental illness, or to provide detoxification services to people high
on drugs or alcohol. Individuals are usually discharged in five or fewer days and are referred to a
core provider for outpatient services. Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) are located in Bibb,
Clarke and Richmond counties and have a combined capacity of 58 beds. These CSUs primarily
serve individuals residing in Region 2 but may be utilized by any eligible individual in the state,
regardless of county of residence.

Georgia Crisis and Access Line (GCAL) is the single point of entry for all behavioral health
services in Georgia. GCAL is a 24 /7 toll free help-line that directs individuals to personalized
services to meet their immediate needs.

Housing Vouchers provide supported housing and bridge funding to persons with serious
and persistent mental illness. Supported housing helps individuals attain and maintain safe and
affordable housing while supporting their integration into the community. The program is
designed to provide housing supports for tenants who are deemed ineligible for any other
benefits or for whom a HUD voucher is not available.

Intensive Case Management (ICM) provides individualized supports and resource

coordination for adults with a mental illness. ICM facilitates independent functioning, access to
necessary services and an environment that promotes recovery. ICM interventions help
individuals identify service needs; develop strategies and supportive interventions to avoid out-
of-home placement or the need for more intensive services; increase social support networks;
and coordinate rehabilitative services. Participation in ICM is expected to decrease psychiatric
hospitalizations, incarcerations and episodes of homelessness, and increase housing stability
and participation in employment activities. ICM is available in Baldwin, Bibb, Columbia, Jasper,
Jones, Monroe, Putnam, Richmond, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties.

Mobile Crisis Teams (MCTs) have staff on-call 24/7 to respond to any crisis call related to a
mental illness or substance abuse issue. The teams conduct face-to-face evaluations at the site of
crisis and make recommendations for further treatment if needed. This service is offered via
contracted provider and is available throughout the region.

Peer Support Services provide structured activities within a peer support center that
promote socialization, recovery, wellness, self-advocacy, development of natural supports and
maintenance of community living skills. Individual Peer Support services are provided in the

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community by Certified Peer Specialists and help individuals achieve their recovery goals. Peer
services are often provided by individuals with lived recovery experience. Activities are
consumer motivated, initiated and/or managed and assist individuals in living as independently
as possible. Group Peer Support Services are offered in Augusta, Athens, Macon, Milledgeville,
Sandersville and Swainsboro. Individuals Peer Support services can be provided in any of
Region 2’s counties.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation – Group (PSR-G) services are provided for individuals with
mental health and/or substance abuse issues. PSR-G provides structured activities within a peer
support center that promote recovery, wellness, illness self-management training, development
of natural supports, and maintenance of community living skills. PSR-G services are provided in
Athens, Milledgeville and Swainsboro.

Supported Employment emphasizes that rapid job search and placement should be
prioritized above traditional prevocational training or traditional vocational rehabilitation. Job
development, placement and training assist people who, due to the severity of their disabilities,
need support to locate, choose, obtain, learn and maintain a job. Services include supports to
choose and obtain paid employment at competitive wages, individually-based community jobs,
and brief training to learn the specific skills necessary to perform and retain a particular job.
Services are available in Athens, Augusta, Milledgeville and Macon.

Addictive Disease Services

Addictive Disease Residential Services include intensive residential, semi-independent

residential and independent residential options and are offered in Athens, Augusta, Macon,
Milledgeville and Swainsboro. Adult Addictive Disease Intensive Residential Services are
provided under Addictive Disease Residential Services as well as the Women’s Treatment and
Recovery Services program. Individuals dually diagnosed with serious and persistent mental
illness (SPMI) and addictive disease (AD) may also be eligible for the Georgia Housing Voucher
Program (GHVP) for use in semi-independent and independent residential settings. This
voucher may be used in any county in Region 2.

Intensive Addictive Disease Outpatient Program (IOP) consists of day services designed
for clients who have addictive diseases. Individuals attend group services that help them identify
past patterns of substance abuse, triggers, coping skills and ways to avoid future use while
building a social support network to assist in their recovery. IOP services are provided in Athens,
Augusta, Macon, Milledgeville and Swainsboro.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILTIES
Developmental Disabilities Services

All services are designed to encourage and build on existing social networks and natural sources
of support, and to promote inclusion in the community and safety in the home environment.
Contracted providers are required to have the capacity to support individuals with complex
behavioral and or medical needs.

The services a person receives depends on a professional determination of level of need and the
services and other community resources available:

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Adult Occupational Therapy Services promote fine motor skill development, coordination
and sensory integration, and facilitate the use of adaptive equipment or technology.

Adult Physical Therapy Services address participants’ physical therapy needs resulting
from developmental disabilities. These services promote gross and fine motor skills and
facilitate independent functioning.

Adult Speech and Language Therapy Services address adult participants’ speech and
language therapy needs, preserving their speech communication capacity and function.

Behavioral Supports Consultation is the professional-level service that assists participants

with significant, intensive and challenging behaviors that interfere with activities of daily living,
social interaction, work or similar situations.

Community Access is designed to help participants acquire, retain or improve self-help,

socialization and adaptive skills required for active participation and independent functioning
outside the home.

Community Guide services are only for participants who opt for participant direction. These
services help participants to define and direct their own services and supports and to meet the
responsibilities of participant direction.

Community Living Support services are individually tailored supports that assist with the
acquisition, retention or improvement of skills related to participants’ continued residence in
their family homes.

Community Residential Alternatives are available to individuals who require intense levels
of residential support in small group settings of four or fewer or in host home/life-sharing
arrangements. Services include a range of interventions that focus on training and support in
one or more of the following areas: eating and drinking, toileting, personal grooming and health
care, dressing, communication, interpersonal relationships, mobility, home management and
use of leisure time.

Crisis Respite Homes exist in residential settings and provide short-term crisis services. Each
home serves up to four individuals who are experiencing an emotional/behavioral change
and/or distress that leads to a disruption of essential functions. Placement in Crisis Respite
Homes occurs when individuals have not responded to less restrictive crisis interventions.

Environmental Accessibility Adaptation consists of physical adaptations to participants’

(or family members’) homes which are necessary to ensure the health, welfare and safety, or
which enable individuals to function with greater independence in the home.

Financial Support Services are provided to assure that participant-directed funds outlined
in Individual Service Plans are managed and distributed as intended.

Group Homes are licensed homes that serve up to four individuals with developmental
disabilities who require intense levels of residential support. Group Homes provide a range of
interventions that focus on training and support in one or more of the following areas: eating
and drinking, toileting, personal grooming and health care, dressing, communication,
interpersonal relationships, mobility, home management and use of leisure time.

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Host Homes are private homes of individuals or families, whether owned or leased, in which
life-sharing, residential supports are provided to one or two adults with developmental
disabilities, who are not to be related to the occupant owner or lessee by blood or marriage. The
homeowners or lessees may not be employed by the provider agency that subcontracts for the
host home services.

Individual Directed Goods and Services that are not otherwise be provided through the
NOW or Medicaid State Plan may be identified by individuals, support coordinators and
interdisciplinary teams, and include services, equipment and supplies.

Individual Support Plan is the range of services an individual receives based on professional
determination of need.

Mobile Crisis Services dispatch Mobile Crisis Teams (MCTs) to crisis locations for
individuals with developmental disabilities. MCT members are responsible for completing
comprehensive assessments of each crisis situation and mitigating risks to health and safety of
individuals in crisis and/or others. MCTs also make referrals to intensive crisis services or
hospital emergency rooms if necessary.

Natural Support Training exists for individuals who provide unpaid support, training,
companionship or supervision to participants.

Prevocational Services prepare participants for paid or unpaid employment and include
teaching concepts such as compliance, attendance, task completion, problem solving and safety.

Respite Services provide brief periods of support or relief for individuals with disabilities or
their caregivers and include maintenance respite for planned or scheduled relief or
emergency/crisis respite for a brief period of support for participants experiencing crisis
(usually behavioral) or in instances of family emergency.

Specialized Medical Equipment consists of devices, controls or appliances specified in the

Individual Service Plan, which enable participants to increase their abilities to perform activities
of daily living and to interact more independently with their environment.

Specialized Medical Supplies consist of food supplements, special clothing, diapers, bed
wetting protective sheets and other authorized supplies specified in the Individual Service Plan.

Support Coordination is a set of interrelated activities that identify, coordinate and review
the delivery of appropriate services with the objective of protecting the health and safety of
participants while ensuring access to services.

Supported Employment enables participants, for whom competitive employment at or above

the minimum wage is unlikely absent the provision of supports, to work in a regular work
setting.

Transportation services enable participants to gain access to waiver and other community
services, activities, resources, and organizations typically utilized by the general population.
These services do not include transportation available through Medicaid non-emergency
transportation or as an element of another waiver service.

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Vehicle Adaptation includes adaptations to participants’ (or family members’) vehicles
approved in the Individual Service Plan, such as hydraulic lifts, ramps, special seats and other
modifications to allow for access into and out of the vehicle as well as safety while moving.

New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP)

The New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) are Medicaid
programs that provide supports to people living with developmental disabilities who want to live
at home or in other kinds of community living arrangements. The services offered through these
waivers provide supports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The NOW Waiver provides supports to individuals who need less intensive services and do not
need 24-hour care. It was designed for people with disabilities who live with family members or
in their own home.

The COMP Waiver was designed for people who need a full range of out-of-home services or
intensive in-home services. It is also used for people who are transitioning out of institutions
into community living.

The New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver (COMP) programs
represent Georgia’s continuous commitment to improve home and community-based services
for persons with developmental disabilities.

Both NOW and COMP provide:

• Supports for community connection building and participant direction
• Significant support coordination services to participants and their families
• A participant-centered assessment process to determine individual support needs
• An Individual Service Plan to address the needs of the individual and their family
• An individual budget and a simplified individual budget process that increases flexibility
in service delivery to meet individual needs, including a process for interim modifications
to the budget
• Significant safeguards for participants and families to ensure the delivery of quality
services and supports; and the use of qualified service providers

Service Delivery Methods: All NOW and COMP program participants have two options for
receiving services. Participants may choose the provider managed (traditional) service delivery
option, or opt to self direct allowable waiver services under the Participant-Direction Option.
Both of these methods give participants and family members flexibility, choice and control over
the delivery of the waiver services.

Implementation: The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

(DBHDD), Division of Developmental Disabilities implements and oversees day-to-day
operations of the waivers. The Department of Community Health (DCH) is the State Medicaid
Agency and has oversight of the waivers.

DBHDD is responsible for participant/individual needs assessments, eligibility determinations,

Intake and Evaluation of current and potential waiver recipients, and the assignment of support
coordination services. The Department also manages provider enrollment, certification and
approvals, in conjunction with DCH.
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 Emergency Receiving Facilities
CRISIS STABILIZATION UNITS:
Advantage Behavioral Health Systems
250 North Avenue Director: Richard Cereneche
Athens, GA 30601 rcereneche@advantagebhs.org
Phone: (706) 369-5745, x2028 Medical Director: Shahzad Hashmi, MD
Fax: (706) 542-9681

River Edge Behavioral Health Center

175 Emery Highway Director: Michele Fulcher
Macon, GA 31217 mfulcher@river-edge.org
Phone: (478) 803-8617 Medical Director: Debra Osborne, MD
Fax: (478) 752-1040

Serenity Behavioral Health Systems

3421 Mike Padgett Highway Director: Madison Bentley
Augusta, GA 30906 mbentley@serenitybhs.com
Phone: (706) 432-4889 Medical Director: Elizabeth Messalum, MD
Fax: (706) 432-3791

STATE HOSPITAL RECEIVING FACILITIES:

East Central Regional Hospital
Phone: (706) 792-7006
Fax: (706) 792-7046

Regional Hospital Administrator: Paul Brock

Social Services Chief: Lisa Kuglar, LCSW
Admissions Director: Audrey Harden
Clinical Director: Vicky Spratlin, MD

Gracewood Campus
100 Myrtle Boulevard
Gracewood, GA 30812

Augusta Campus
3405 Mike Padgett Highway
Augusta, Georgia 30906

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